PROTESTS were staged today at Liverpool’s Royal Hospital in a bid to stop feared Tory-Lib Dem cuts which could derail the multi-million pound rebuild.

Staff, trade union representatives and councillors turned out with Riverside MP Louise Ellman vowing to raise it in the Commons to demand answers from the Tory-Lib-Dem government.

Mrs Ellman said: “The case for the new hospital is very strong. It is deeply disturbing they have embarked on major spending cuts immediately after an election.

“It is our responsibility to make sure they know how important public spending is to Liverpool.”

The Royal project is one of a number city leaders fear could be under threat from the new government.

Paul Sumner, Unison regional organiser, added: “We believe the hospital should be rebuilt using public money, but the Tory and Lib-Dem plan to bring it under scrutiny means we could end up with no new hospital at all.”

Council cabinet member for employment and skills Cllr Nick Small said no new hospital meant no new jobs.